November 27, 2024 -- Psalm 139:23-24 -- Fearless inspection of mind and heart

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People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24 ESV
 
As many of you know, this series of devotions follows the Twelve Steps as they are laid out in OVERCOMERS Freedom From Life Controlling Issues, Canadian Bible Society, 2022. Today’s material moves to Step 4 which is “I commit to working with God to make a daily inspection of my character”. Why is such a daily inspection of your character necessary? Well, what you think and what you believe become what you do. If your thinking is corrupt, then your believing and acting become corrupt.
 
Contrary to what the world says, that people are either basically good, the Bible shows that believers who are being made new in Jesus Christ must constantly fight the old sinful patterns and inclinations of the mind. The Bible teaches that people have a sin-nature that warps their thoughts and acting. The world also teaches, perhaps just more information is needed, and people will act more kindly and justly. This is easily disproven as well. How often in the past week did you know, I mean your conscience knew and your impulses knew the right you should do, and you didn’t do it? You are educated, but you are not acting according to that level of education. That is not the problem.
 
John Piper noted the Bible has many phrases which describe the human mind. Careful, these are not complimentary. Look at the list he has compiled, our minds are:

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-battle-for-your-mind, Oct 1, 2010
 
It would be easy to add to that list, but the point is made. Our minds are a tangle of rebellion, lingering evil, against which the sanctifying power of God must be brought to bear. Believers must examine their thoughts and their motives and their intentions and their character. It requires the penetrating, powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. We are too lazy, too self-satisfied, too dull and blinded to truly know the sinful artifices of our mind which warp our actions.
 
Before you get too discouraged and leave off from this whole process understand a few, critical points. In Psalm 139 it is God Who made His people. It is God Who initiates the process of purification from sinful person to sanctified person. He knows the wickedness of the human heart. The warped mind, the rebellious mind, the corrupt mind, the sin He is dealing with in each person according to his or her need. It is gratifying to know that a sanctified person is one who, in the grip of Jesus’s grace is a forgiven sinner who is empowered by the Holy Spirit to make the necessary changes in his mind, attitude, heart, life and actions which accord with the will and purposes of God. It is a life-long process that confirms the necessity of God’s work in one’s life and affirms the patient graciousness of God in each person’s life.
 
Be prepared. This is a very difficult step. The transformation the Father brings through Jesus Christ will be Spirit-powered, and it is surgery that goes to the exact places of wounds, misunderstandings, fears, so that as such are exposed by the Spirit they can be healed, conquered and transformed by the Father’s love.
 
Be prepared and act. I can’t remember who said this, but it rings true, “Many Christians are more aware of the state of their investments than they are of their attitudes and mind”. Yet, our investments and bank statements are, in view of eternity, insignificant when compared with the investments we are called to make right now in our daily walk with Jesus Christ.
 
God the Father, the Lamp of the Spirit’s searching light is nearing my heart, and I confess I am not prepared for what will be exposed. There are many sins I’ve justified. There are many things I’ve been holding on to defiantly, knowing they are not pleasing in Your sight. Jesus promised that He is approachable and kind so that all Who turn to Him will find rest for their souls. To get this rest, I am beginning to understand I need the surgical precision of Your search light to expose and excise all that is lined up in me which opposes You. Father in heaven, hold me in the merciful, loving grip of Your grace as You work out the salvation of Jesus Christ in every area of my heart, mind, soul and life. Faithful Father let the Spirit both cleanse and heal and put the steel in my spine that is needed so that I will give my faith the work-out it needs in order that my life will continue to be led in the way everlasting. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/-44GH3NhdIA?si=vAwgK6XiY_ttgGe3 I Asked the Lord that I Might Grow
 

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